Deodorant dispenser



Jan. '22, 1957 R. E. SHIELDS ET L DEODORANT DISPENSER Filed July 12,1954 RNEYS.

United States Patent DEODORANT DISPENSER Ronald E. Shields, Milford,Robert T. Findlay, Stratford, and Francis Fitzgerald, Bridgeport, Conn.

Application July 12, 1954, Serial No. 442,544

Claims. (Cl. 299-24) This invention relates to a deodorant dispenser,and has for an object to provide a simple and effective device fordispensing deodorants or similar materials in enclosed spaces, forovercoming disagreeable odors or dispensing perfumes or similaragreeable odors.

A particular object is to provide a device adapted for use with the typeof defroster used in motor cars having means for discharging a stream ofwarm air against the inner surface of the windshield, the device beingadapted to be fastened to the windshield in this stream of air forcirculation over a vaporizable material in solid form, either adeodorant type of material or the perfumed type, to improve theatmosphere within the car.

It is also an object to provide a deviceof this character which,although designed primarily for use in motor cars, is still adapted foruse in other locations, as on electric fans in a room, the hot-airregister from a heating system, an open window, or the like.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, we have devised theconstruction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part ofthis specification. It is, however, to be understood the invention isnot limited to the specific details of construction and arrangementshown, but may embody various changes and modifications within the scopeof the invention.

in this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view looking toward the dash and inner side of thewindshield of a motor car provided with a defroster, providing means fordischarging warm air against the inside of the windshield, showing thedevice used in combination therewith;

Fig. 2 is a partial transverse section and partial elevationillustrating this combination;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the device showing it applied to thewindshield, a portion of the windshield being shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the device;

Fig. 5 is a partial end view and partial section, the section beingsubstantially on line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view looking down on Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a somewhat diagrammatical View showing use of the device inconnection with a hot-air register of a heating system;

Fig. 8 is a view showing it used in conjunction with an electric fan,and

Fig. 9 is a partial section and partial elevation showing the deviceused with a partially opened window.

The dispenser comprises an elongated hollow housing or casing 10 forminga container or holder for a volatile or vaporizable material 11 in solidform. As shown, this is an elongated block of this material insertedinto the container or housing 10 with a space 12 around it forcirculation of air. This material may be a deodorant for counteractingdisagreeable odors, for example, in a motor car or other enclosed space,or it could be a perfume or similar material for providing an agreeableodor for this space. This container is generally rectangular in crosssection, including a top wall 13, side walls 14 and 2,778,678 PatentedJan. 22, 1957 2, 15, and a bottom wall 16. The side wall 14-, however,is inclined to the top and bottom walls 13 and 1.6 for a purposepresently to be described. The top wall 13 and the inclined wall 14 areeach provided with a series of perforations or openings 17 and 18respectively for circulation of air through the container and over thesolid vaporizable material 11 therein to absorb the vapor shown thiscomprises a plate which may rest against the open end of the container10 and is provided with spring fingers 20 to grip the sides of thecontainer and hold this closure in place.

Means is also provided for mounting this container on differentsupports, that shown comprising a flexible rubber suction cup 21 securedto the container, in the device shown by means of a strap 22 forming anextension of the top wall 13 extending over and spaced at short distancefrom the inclined wall 14 and bent at an angle to lie against the bottomwall 16 and be secured thereto by any suitable means, such, for example,as the screw or bolt 23. The cup is secured to this bracket 22 by anysuitable means such, for example, as a screw 24 and clamping nuts 25 onthe side of the bracket opposite the inclined wall 14. This places thesuction cup 21 opposite the inclined wall 14 and extending outwardlytherefrom with its axis inclined to the plane of this wall for a purposepresently to be described. Other means could be provided tor supportingthe dispenser on a supporting means, but this suction cup provides asupport which may be quickly and easily applied to and removed from thesupport and permits shifting of the dispenser if desired, and it doesnot require the use of any clamp or tools or similar means for eithermounting or removing the dispenser.

As previously suggested, the device is designed primarily for use in amotor car in conjunction with the defroster for the windshield toeliminate disagreeable odors by dispensing a deodorant or similarmaterial, or improving the atmosphere by dispensing perfumes oragreeable odors. Such use of the device is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 inwhich the windshield is indicated at 26, and

in this case it is shown as inclined upwardly and backwardly, althoughthis dispensercould be used with a vertical or substantially verticalwindshield. Also asso ciated with this windshield and located below itis a dash 27 provided with an elongated slot 28 at the lower edge andinner side of the windshield forming a discharge nozzle for heated airfrom the car heater 29, by means of a blower 30 connected to this by adischarge pipe or hose 31 and controlled by a suitable switch or othermeans 32 on the dash. The dispenser iii is secured on the inner side ofthis windshield 26 by the suction cup 21 over this discharge nozzle 23for the heated air, and on account of the inclined arrangement of theside wall 14 with respect to the top wall 13 and the axis of the suctioncup, this wall 14 is thus inclined to the plane of the windshield 26, asshown in Figs. 2 and 3, "forming a passage between this wall and thewindshield which is wider at the bottom and narrower at the top, andthus air flowing upwardly over the surface of the windshield from thedefroster nozzle 28 is deflected into the openings 18 in the wall 14 andflowing through the container over the block of vaporizable material 11,picks up vapor from this material and passes through the opening 17 inthe top of the container into the enclosed space within the car. carriedinto the car can be controlled through the hand control 32 to increaseor decrease the amount of material dispensed within the car. If thewindshield 26 is in a vertical or substantially vertical position, theinclined side wall 14 will have the same effect, as in this case it willbe more inclined to the vertical but will be in the same inclinedposition relatively with respect to the inner surface of the windshield.

Although, as indicated, the primary object of this device is for use incombination with the heated air type of defroster in a motor car, asdescribed, it is not limited to such use. Some other uses are indicatedin Figs. 7, 8 and 9. In Fig. 7, it is shown secured to the front face ofthe register 33 of a hot air heating system and above the louvers ordischarge openings 34 therein. in this arrangement the side wall 14would be inclined to the front surface of the register, the same withrespect'to the windshield as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and aircirculating upwardly from the register will be deflected by this Wallinto the openings 18 and will circulate through the container over thisvaporizable material and out the openings 17 in the top wall, aspreviously described.

In Fig. 8 it is shown as applied to the stand orbase 35 of an electricfan, or it could be secured'to the guard 36, in either case beinglocated in the air stream so that'the air will circulate through thecontainer and over the vaporizable material within it.

In Fig. 9 it is shown secured on the inner surface of the window-pane 37of a partially opened window, just above the lower edge 38 of apartially opened sash. This will permit air flowing upwardly on theinner side of the window to flow between the inclined wall 14 and thewindowpane, in a manner similar to the arrangement shown in Figs. 2 and3, a part of this air will be deflected through openings 13 to circulatein the container over the vaporizahle material and out the openings 17in the top wall, the same as in the other arrangements.

It will be clear from the above that the device is a very simple one andmay be easily and quickly mounted in practically any position desiredforrnost effective operation, either as a deodorizer to counteractobjectionable odors in an enclosed space, or as a fumigator to create asanitary condition, or to dispense odors such'as Zperfumes or the like;also when used with the warm air .type of defroster, the amount ofvapor-or odorsdispensed to the enclosed space may be readily controlledby controlling the flow of air from the defroster, or inthe case of thefan of Fig. 8, for example, by controlling the speed of the fan. Alsothat the material within the container may be readily renewed or changedby merely releasing the closure 19 and inserting a previously formedblock 11 of the vaporizable solid material.

Having thus set forth the nature of our invention, we claim:

1. A dispenser of the character described comprising a hollow elongatedholder having perforated longitudinal substantially flat side and topwalls when ina horizontal position, means for mounting the holder on anupright support with the side wall inclined to the surface of thesupport comprising a suction cup, a supporting strap comprising asubstantially flat strip extending over and spaced from the side wallsecured to the holder and means securing the cup to the strap with theaxis of the-cup inclined to the side wall 'so that when the device issecured in a horizontal position to an upright surface'by The amount ofthe material vaporized and said. cup the side wall is inclined to saidsurface, and a solid vaporizable material within the holder.

2. A dispenser of the character described comprising an elongated hollowcasing including perforated horizontal substantially flat top and sidewalls with the side wall inclined to the top wall at less than a rightangle, a support extending outwardly from the side wall including asuction cup located with its axis .inclined to the plane of the sidewall so that when the device is secured in a horizontal position -to anupright surface-by :saidcup the side Wallis 'inclined'to-saidsurface,and a solid vaporizable material in .the casing. I

3. A dispenser of "the character described comprising an elongatedhollowscasingforminga container, said casing including a substantiallyflat horizontal side wall and a substantially fiat horizontal top wallwith the side wall inclined to the plane of the top wall at less than aright angle, each of said walls-provided-with a seriesiof openings forcirculation of air through the container, a supporting means formounting the container on a support in a-horizontal position with saidside wall inclined to a surface of the supportcomprising a suction cupsecured to the casing with its axis .inclined to the plane of the sidewall, and a refillable element in the container comprising a solidvaporizable material. I p

4. In combination with javmotor car having an upright Windshield andadefiroster-including an outletfor warm airbelow the windshield ;fordirecting this air against the surface of the windshield, a d eo dorizercomprising :an elongated container including substantially flathorizontal top and side walls arranged at an angle to each, otherandeach provided with a series of openings'for circulation of airthrough the container, a solid vaporizable material in the container anda suction cup secured to-the container and-projecting from the sidethereof with its axis inclined to the .plane of the side wall so that itsecures .the container to the windshield in a horizontal position oversaid warm air outlet .with said side wall inclined to the surface of thewindshield .in position to direct warm airfrom said defroster throughthe openings in the side Wall intothe container.

5. A dispenser of the characterdescribed comprising an elongated hollowbody member forming a container, said container including asubstantially flat horizontaltop wall anda substantially flat horizontalside wallinclined to the top wall at less thana right angle, saidwallseach provided with a series of openings for circulating of airthrough the container, at vaporiz-able material in solid form removablymounted in-the container for circulation of air over it, one wall of thecontainer including areleasable closure to permit insertion of saidmaterial, and a supporting means for the container to secure,it-to anupright supporting surface comprising asuction cup-projecting fromsaidinclined side wall of the container with its axis inclined to theplane of said wall so that-when the device is secured to an uprightsurface in a horizontal position by said cup the side wall is inclinedto said surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,407,788 De Carlo Feb v 28, 1922 1,782,919 Feldman Nov. 25, 19342,247,600 =Brennan'et a1. ,July 1, 1941 2,613,990 Lustek c.. .Oct. 14,1952

